Translucent decoration and process of making the same



TRANSLUCENT DECORATION AND PROCESS =05 MAKING THE SAME June 10, 192%.

E. H. HORTON Filed NOV. 27, 1922 [ml 672502" [25/5/1 HOPTON 9, 03M, @WZ

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Patented June 10, 192

ELSIE H. HORTON, OF MINNEAPOLIS,

IVIINNESOTA.

TBANSLUCENT DECORATION AND PROCESS OF MAKING THE SAME.'

Application filed November 27, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELSIE H. HORTON, a citizen of the United States, resident of Minneapolis, county of Hennepin, and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Translucent Decorations and Processes of Making the Same, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in translucent decorations designed to be placed upon a suitable screen or support, arranged in front of a lamp preferably an incandescent electric lamp, so that the light therefrom is diffused by and through the translucent decorations which are preferably formed to represent various fruits, vegetables or other articles.

The invention consists generally in a hollow translucent structure shaped to represent the desired article, which may be any specimen of fruit, or vegetalole or of other suitable decorative form, having a suitable stem or support by which the article may be secured to a screen or other suitable stand or holding means.

The invention consists further in the process of forming such translucent structure, and in various combinations and arrangements hereinafter more specifically described and pointed out in the claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a suitable form that may be employed in producing one of the translucent structures, and also illustrate the various steps of the process used in forming said structure.

In the drawings: v

Figure 1 represents a suitable form over which the article is formed or shaped;

Figure 2 represents a section of fabric that may be employed for producing the translucent structure;

Figure 3 illustrates the first steps of the process of producing the translucent structure from the sheet of fabric shown in Figure 2;

Figures 4., 5, 6, and '7 illustrate the successive steps of the process of producing the translucent structure which is shown in its completed form in Figure 7 and I i I Figure 8 is a detail of the completed structure on a larger scale showing the'result of the successive steps of the process.

In the drawings 1 represents the form over which the translucent structure is shaped. It is preferably supported on a Serial No. 603,634.

suitable stem or standard 2 secured to a base 3. I have shown in the drawings this form of spherical shape. but the size and shapeof the form may be-varied so as to correspondingly vary the size and shape of the translucent decorative structure.

In carrying out the process I provide a sheet of fabric of the proper size to be applied to the form over which the particular structure is to be shaped. I have used for this purpose a fabric of China silk or orgaudy. The China silk is found desirable because it has sufficient body while being translucent. The organdy is a thin cotton fabric with properties somewhat similar to the China silk. Other suitable fabrics may be employed. The fabric "may be used either colored or uncolored. If a colored fabric is used the finished structure may have the original color or tint of the fabric or the fabric may be additionally tinted to efiect the desired decorative coloration. If an uncolored fabric is used it is preferably painted or tinted by hand. y

In forming the translucent structure the following steps are preferably employed, and preferably in the order hereinafter stated; i

(1 The sheet offabric is first wet with starch. Arrow root starch has been successfully employed for this purpose, although other kinds of starch maybe used if preferred.

(2) The wet piece of 'starched fabric is placed upon and shaped to the form, and secured thereon, preferably by tying (Figure 3) and the form with the starched 'article thereon is then placed upon a drying frame until the fabric has become sufiicient- 1y dry to retain its shape.

(3) The shaped article is then removed from the form and a suitable stem -5, pref erably formed of wire, is secured around the open edge of the sheet (Figure 4).

(4:) If the structure has been formed ofan uncolored fabric, or if the structure is to have a color different from that of the fabric, the surface of the structure is painted, preferably by hand, to give it any desired color, tint or shade, which may be required to imitate the particular article that the structure is designed to represent.

(5) The structure is then dipped, any desired number of times, in a wax solution such as melted parafiine, and the applied coating is dried after each dipping. I have usually.- employed from three, to; five dippings, and have determined by inspection the sufiioiency of the dipping The dipping should be continued till the threads of the fabric are obscured and form-holding strength is imparted to the fabric without destroying its translueency.

(6) The stem of the articles are then colored, usually green, either by paintingor dipping in-enameling material 'of the desired color.

(7 The surface: of. the structure isthen treated to a coat of shellac or varnish. A

suitable celluloid solution may be substituted for the shellac or varnishfinish. This final coating of shellac, varnish or celluloid r gelatine solution forms a protection for the waxed or painted fabric preventing the waX-or-paint frombeing rubbed or other wise accidentally removed. This coating also permits the finished structure to be, washed or cleaned without injuring the paint or wax finish beneath.

Th'e'completed structurew-ill be translucent and when the structure is. placed in front of a source of light, such as an incandescent electric lamp, therays oflightpassingthrough the structure will be diffused while at the same time the surface of'the structurewill show the color, or tint, or combination of colors, produced by the original color of the fabric, or: the. paint applied thereto.

1 claim: as my invention:

1. A hollow, translucent decoration, comprising a sheet of stifi starched and dried fabric shaped to the form desired, the surface of said formed sheet being suitably colored,v and with: an outer protective coatingv applied thereto.

2. A hollow, translucent decoration, com-- prising a sheet of stiff starched and dried fabric partly crimped into the shape of a vegetable or fruit form, and having the surface of said formed sheet suitably colored, and an outer protective wax-like coating applied thereto. 7

A hollow, translucent decoration, comprising a sheet of stiff starched and dried fabric, shapedto avegetable or fruit form a coating of waxupon the outer surface of said formed fabric, said outer surface being suitably colored, and an outer protective coating applied to the waxed surface.

4. A. hollow, translucent decoration, comprising a sheet of stiff fabric partly crimped into the shape of a vegetable or fruit form. the surface of said formed sheet being suitably colored and an outer protectivecoating applied thereto.

5. A hollow, translucent decoration, comprising a sheet of stiff fabric partly stretched and partly crimped to a vegetable or fruit form, a form-retaining coating applied to said fabric, the surface of said formed sheet being suitably colored and provided with an outer protective coating.

6. The process of forming a translucent decoration. which consists in applying a starched fabric to a suitable form and permitting the same to dry on the form; removing the shaped fabric from said form; suitably coloring its surface, and then applying a protective coating to the surface of said decoration, substantially as described.

7. The process of forming a translucent decoration which consists in wetting with starch a sheet of fabric; applying the wet sheet to a suitable form, shaping the sheet to the form and permitting it tov dry while thereon; removing the sheet from the form, coloring its surface, and applying a protective coating thereto.

8. The process of forming a translucent decoration which consists in wetting with starch a sheet of fabric; applying the wetsheet to a suitable form, shaping the sheet to the form and permitting it to dry while thereon; removing the sheet from the form and applying a protective coating thereto.

9. The step in the process of forming a translucent decoration, which consists in applying a starched fabric to a suitable form, shaping the sheet to the form and permitting it to dry while thereon, substantially as described.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of November, 1922.

ELSIE H. HORTON. 

